What is the Tonga ‘Haka’ called, what are the words, and what Rugby World Cup teams have a pre-match dance?

THE Rugby World Cup is underway and fans are eager to see the iconic Haka.

And Tonga will be performing their pre-match war dance at the tournament against South Africa tonight.

Which Rugby World Cup teams have a pre-match war dance?

As well as the All Blacks, all three participating Pacific Islands – Fiji, Samoa and Tonga – perform a pre-match war dance.

What is the Fiji dance called and what are the lyrics?

Fiji’s war dance is called the Cibi, which then-captain Ratu Cakobau came up with in 1939 as a way of competing with the Haka on a tour of New Zealand.

The lyrics are as follows:

Fijian
(Leader)Vaka rau! Cibi!
Ai tei vovo, tei vovo
E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya;
Tei vovo, tei vovo
E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya

Rai tu mai, rai tu mai
Oi au a virviri kemu bai
Rai tu mai, rai tu mai
Oi au a virviri kemu bai

Toa yalewa, toa yalewa
Veico, veico, veico
Au tabu moce koi au
Au moce ga ki domo ni biau

E luvu koto ki ra nomu waqa
O kaya beka au sa luvu sara
Nomu bai e wa mere
Au tokia ga ka tasere

Tuletule buka sa dredre
Tuletule buka sa dredre
Tou vaka tosoya
Vaka malua.
E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya

English

Get ready! Cibi!
The war-fence, the war-fence,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
The war-fence, the war-fence
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Look here, look here,
I attack your defences,
Look here, look here,
I attack your defences

A rooster and a hen,
They attack, attack, attack
It is forbidden for me to slumber
Except to the sound of breaking waves

Your ship lies sunken below,
You say I may have drowned.
Your fence is just made of creapers
I peck at it, and it comes undone.

I turn the tree to uproot it,
It is difficult but it is there.
The tree is out of the ground
Slowly, we are able to move it.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

What is the Samoa dance called and what are the lyrics?

Samoa’s war dance is called the Siva Tau.

It was first used in 1991 after the rugby team switched from the more traditional Maulu’ulu Moa to a song they felt more effective in psyching up the players.

The lyrics are as follows:

Samoan

Samoa!
Tatou o e tau le taua!
Tau e matua tau!
Fai ia mafai!
Le Manu!
Team: Sau ia!
Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva
Le Manu Samoa e ua malo ona fai o le faiva

Le Manu Samoa lenei ua ou sau
Leai se isi Manu oi le atu laulau
Ua ou sau nei ma le mea atoa
O lou malosi ua atoatoa
Ia e faatafa ma e soso ese
Leaga o lenei manu e uiga ese
Le Manu Samoa
Le Manu Samoa
Le Manu Samoa e o mai I Samoa
Le Manu!

English

Samoa!

Let’s go to the war!

Fight fiercely!

Work to achieve!

The Manu!

Let’s go!

The Manu Samoa, may you succeed in your mission
The Manu Samoa, may you succeed in your mission

The Manu Samoa here we have come

There is no other Manu (team) anywhere

Here I come completely prepared

My strength is at its peak

Make way and move aside

Because this Manu is unique

The Manu Samoa

The Manu Samoa

The Manu Samoa reigns from Samoa

The Manu!